CRICKET.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13518, 15 February 1906, Page 5

CRICKET.

By Long Siif.

THE MELBOURNE TEAM'S TOUR. February 36 (Friday): Against AYanganui. February 17 and 19 (Saturday and Monday): Against Manawatu. February 2.3, 24, 2G (Friday, Saturday, Monday): Against "Wellington. March 2, 3, 5 (Friday, Saturday, Monday): Against Canterbury. March 7, 8 (Wednesday and Thursday): Against Southland. March IG, 17, 19 (Friday, Saturday, Monday): Against Otago. March 21, 22 (Wednesday and Thursday): Against South Canterbury. March 33, 24, 26 (Friday, Saturday, Monday): Against New Zealand. Dunedin Saturday afternoon weather was again experienced last Saturday—which is to say it- again rained "some" on that day. It must bo very disheartening to bowlers to havo, to trundle away Saturday after Saturday with a wet ball. t Th« scoring of the teams playing at the Nortb Ground on Saturday was remarkably even, _ Ca-risbrook (three wickets down") amassing 116 in their firef- innings against Grange (165); and Dunedin (six wickets down) IK, to the Albion's total of 124. Owing to the rain play was discontinued from 20 minutes past 3 to 5 o'clock. One hundred and sixty-six runs take a lot. of getting on the North Ground, and it was generally thought that the hitherto unbeaten Carisbrook 6 team would fail in the task set them by the Gra-ngo eleven, arid. when Siedeberg was dismissed first ball Carisbrook's chances looked rather blue. However, cricket is admittedly a very uncertain game, and Jerry Austin, who has been considerably off colour this season, sot hold of the Grango bowling on Saturday and helped himself to 70 not out in quite his old style; while Burt, Campbell, and "xtras accounted for 46. leaving the game in an interesting condition. Carisbrook have to get 50 runs, and have seven wickets to fall. 'Plus does not look a very formidable task, but taking into account, the fact that the game has to be played out in tho evening, added to the not very brilliant performances this season oi the B's tail, the chances Geem about even.—• [The match was concluded on Tuesday evening, when the Carisbrook B team knocked up the 50 runs required to win with the further 'loss of two wicketsstumps bring drawn with a total for fiye wickets of 167, Austin not out 92, It seems a pity that Austin was" not given an opportunity of reaching the mttchooveted tentury, as centuries are a somewhat scarce commodity in Dunedin cricket, and it would have shown a sportsmanlike spirit on the part of the Grange to have given him such an opportunity.] It was a splendid catch that 'Roberts took from Siedeberg at mid-on. The latter got fairly on to it with ou« of his pull strokes and drove it fair at- Roberts's head. The fieldsman snapped , at it, knocked it up, then caught it as it was falling, and—oh i what a roar greeted Siedcberg's dismissal. Burt got on one or two splendid leg hits off Porteous, and while he was at the wickets played a most useful game for his side. Campbell, also, although shaping at first somewhat streakily at Dcwnes, compiled his runs very steadily.. Some of Austin's cuts were beautiesCrisp and clean, certain fouvers on a decent ground. He gave a chance of stumping to Beale. but the ball got up rather high, and the Granee custodian was unable to seeurc it. Off Henderson's bowling Austin drove one back very hard and low to the bowler, who made i gallant attempt to hold it. Discussion was fairly keen as to whether it was a chance or not, and opinions seemed about -evenly divided. However, as Hen'derson fnih-<l to take it, the umpire was Hot culled unon to decide the question. Ac!' r oyd played a steady though somewhat lucky innings for Dunedin on Satur- %■' Jr man fet • ilia

side. Wilson was bumping rather nastily at times, but Acknyd with his height managed to get over mo3t of them, except one or two which went over his head. Mackcney and Collie both batted well at ft critical stage of the game, though Wilson should have caught. Mackerscv at point off Cummings. The Albion's fielding was far from perfoct, the catching and throwing in being bad at times, the slippery state of the ball no doubt accpuuting in a largo nieasuro for this. Opolio went down to Carisbrook A by 50 runs, though; they should have done much better under the conditions. It was thought by many that the Albion might have played on and finished tie match with Dunedin, seeing so few runs were wanted to win, but the Albion captain thought otherwise, and refused to go on. The Mornington were defeated by Rosljii on Saturday, which throws them out of the leading position, which tho Grange still maintains, as they had much the best of tho game with Dunedin No. 1. The, GrangeMornington meet next week, so they should have a good fight for it; but I am inclined to think tho Grange can just about will. Few teams have the pleasure of securing 11. G. Sicdeberg's wicket first hall of lato years, but tho Grango secured this on Saturday, Harry departing with the dreadful 0 against. Ilia name. Perhaps wo would not have seen Austin in his' true form had this not happened, as so far this season "Jerry" seems to have been content to keep his wicket up while Sicdebcrg makes tho runs, but this time ho saw that it was ho that would havo to make them, and make them he did, and I hope we shall see him shaping in the two big matches that are to come in his Saturday's style. "Dear Long Slip,—'What seemed very like inconsistency on the part of tho umpires in the match Grange v. Carisbrook B, played on tho North Ground on Saturday, was freely discussed amongst the spectator?. On tho previous Saturday a considerable quantity of rain fell, but no adjournment was made until a heavy downpour drove everyone pavilionwards, making it necessary for the players to change their flannel, were they fortunate enough to have a change with them. As soon as the Tain ceased the plavcrs took the field again. That was when the Carisbrook team was in the field. Last Saturday there was a bit of mist, which certainly for about 15 or 20 minutes was fairly thick, although King street, where there was a lot of vehicular traffic, showed not a vestige of mud, and the same umpires ericd a halt shortly after it' came on. Even after it cleared off altogether, tlicy declined to start again, as the fielders had to be considered as well as the batsmen (according to one umpire), and not till more than an hour and a half after the adjournment was the game resumed! That happened while tho Grango were in tho field, and tho spectators were asking why the game had been adjourned at all.— Disgusted." New South Wales has won the Shotlield Shield five years in succession, and in that time only one match has been lost. The shield has be«n under competition, for 14 years, New "outh Wales having won it eight times, Victoria five, and South Australia once. Among the now English Ministers who have been enthusiastic cricketers are Mr Herbert Gladstone, Mr R. K. C'auston, and Mr John Burns. W. Brearlcy, the Lancashire bowler, in tlio course of a speech at the annual dinner of the North Durham C.C.. said that he hoped lie might have tho opportunity of playing under the captaincy of F, S. Jackson and A. C. Maclaren in Australia next year. N. Claxton, who went in first and carried out his bat for 199 for South Australia against Viotoria, he is tho first South Australian to perform such a feat in representativo cricket (says "Not Out" in tho Referee). It is, moreover, the highest scoro ever made by an Australian who lias gone through the innings in a firstclass match, H. Donnan's 150 not out for Now South Wales against South Australia seven years ago hitherto standing as best in that respect. The only Australians who havo gone through an innings more than once in representative cricket are A. C. Bannerman (who has done so seven times) and J. E. Barrett (twice). A majority of tho batsmen who havo succeeded in this direction belong to tho very slow or stonewalling brigado. Six years ago the Melbourne Club sent a team to New Zealand, which, captained by C. H. Ross, won six matches and drew one, and proved far too powerful for tlio New Zealand teams. Several members of • that team are included in that at-present touring New Zealand—viz., A. A. Aitkcn, H. Irwin, D. Jlailer, P. G. Jennings, and H. Fry. IL Graham and H. Trumblc were tho principal performers. Speaking at the reception to tho South Australian cricketers at Fremantle, Mr J. Price, M.L.A.. said he had played the garao in the Old Country. He regretted that the South Australian team had not among them that excellent cricketer C. E. polling. He (the speaker) had the pleasure in Sydney a few weeks ago of seeing the young Cricketer plav against New South Wales, and he had no hesitation in saying that Dolling was going to bo one of these great batsmen which Australia had been producing for ninny years past. He was sure Dolling was going to be in a representative. Australian team before long. . P. A. Macalister's IXB has only been surpassed twice for Victoria against New South Wales—viz., 130 not out by J. 11. Stuckey and 137 by W. W. Armstrong. It is peculiar that 10 of the last 13 hundreds made by Victorians against New South Wales have been scored on the Sydney ground, and only three on the Melbourne ground. Saunders bowled remarkably well in the rccent New South Wales-Victorian match (says a writer in the Sydney Bulletin) and lato in the day even, when the wicket had recovered from the rain, he was turning the ball. 110 secured the first seven wickets at a cost of 84 runs, the " bag" including Mackav, Trumpcr, Noble, Duff, Diamond, and Waddy. His delivery, too, was fair enough for anything; and it looks as if the sclcctors wcro unnecessarily nervous on that account when they left him out of the recent syndicate that visited England. Tho Sydney cricketer J. R. M. Mackay ends tho season of 1905-6 with an aggregate of 902 runs for New South Wales, his scores being 203, 90, 194, 105, 102 n.0., 4, 136, 18, and 50, and tho average of 112.75 per innings. Jlackay is ono of tho ablest batsmen in the world, and when he has had the advantage of a tour in England there are many in Sydney who believe that he will be the greatest performer Australian cricket has over known. But, without English exporience at all, Mackay has (says a writer in Sydney Referee) performed work unsurpassed by any other Australian in any one season. It is very interesting to compare the styles and strokes of those four great batsmen—Noble, Trumpcr, Duff, and Mackay. It would' bo equally interesting to compare their achievements on good and then on bad wickets, and finally to compare their records as indicated by figures. Victor Trumpcr lias made 1232 runs at an average of 50 runs per innings against Victoria. In the last eight matches lie has scored 21, 230, 73, 19, 51, 22, 130. 0, 43, 68, 53, 53 n.0.. 81, 13, 101, and 23. His latest scoro of 101 made in 60 minutes is highly ranked by most peoplo who saw it as the finest innings tlioy ever saw, under conditions to some degree favouring the ball. One cannot imagine any other batsman playing such cricket. His cutting was superb, but tho peculiar pull-bits to balls pitched well up and on tho wicket, turning back from the off, made everVono marvel. He hit them high to square-leg. His high driving, and particularly the placing of the ball, were of the highest order, while the hit for six on to the roof of the northern pavilion was one of tho host seen on the ground for some years, When ono saw Lyons or Bonnor making big hits 0113 expccled it, for those men wero physical giants. But where docs Trumpcr get all tho power? Of course, his timing is so very precise, and ho has very solid and strong wrists; but, even so, the power of his driving is puzzling. M. A'. Noble has now made eight hundreds against Victoria, viz.: 153 n.0., 100, 122. 155, 103 11.0., 112, 281, and 123; also six against South Australia, the two highest being 230 and 200. His batting is so •sound, and his form so good, that it is likely lie will go on making centuries for many years longer than the average Australiaif batsman dons. M. A. N. is at present at the top of his form. I (says "Not Out" in Sydney Referee) havo often thought that if he were to let himself thoroughly go when he has become set that ho would surprise people by the power of his hitting on both sicles of the wicket. Ho has" now made 29 hundreds in first-class cricket, Clem Hill alone among Australians having made a greater unmber, viz., 34. An appreciation of the ex-Albion cricketer G. Cummings, who is now resident, in Auckland, by "Yorker" in the N.Z. Sporting and Dramatic News:—Going to the wickets Ponsanby made a bad start, Francis and Wilson both going down quickly. Thanks, however, to 'Cummings and Robinson, a good recovery was made, and the day closed with tho board showing two for 83. Cummings (33 not out) and Robinson (30 not out) accounted for practically all the inns. Cummings is a, really safe bat. and got his runs well. He watches the ball carefully, and is not slow to punish ajjtliiiog at all lopse. Seeing .that

he is as well such a fine field, I was rather surprised not to see his name among those chosen to play against tho.Melbourne team. In the beginning o! 1856 or towards the end of 1655 an advertisement was published in the Melbourne Argus that the Alelbourne Cricket Club, which had defated all local elul>s, was prepared to Dlay any club for £500. This challenge lapsed for want of an acceptor, but it opened tho way for what was to follow. A Victorian gentleman, while on a visit to Sydney, discussed with some of tho Sydney players the matter of a match against Victoria, and finally the contest, for love, started on March 27, 1856. Of the men who then played there ,are now but two New South Welshmen living—Harry Ililliard and George Gilbert, —and, I understand, one Victorian —A. Lewis. At tho luncheon at the ground on Friday, on the occasion of tho N.S.W."Victorian jubilee, to which ouite a number of old cricketers wore invited, George Gilbert, looking slightly bent with the weight of years, was present. Harry Billiard, who until this year has seen every match between the two colonies, was com.plilsorily absent on that particular day. Every time the match at Melbourne came round Harry Milliard would make the journey, and lie was always present in Sydney. I saw him in the pavilion when the Australian Eleven met New South Wales the other dav. A third member of the New South Wales team. S. Bradridge. died only ;i few months ago. Lieut-colonel Morris, with whom I ("Short Slip" in tho Sydney Hail) had a chat on the Friday of the match, was chosen for Ihc first match but his father would not let him go to Melbourne. He, however, played three years later. Bowling has always been a subject for deep concern by those who have Australian cricket at heart (says "Record" in tlio Adelaide Observer). It is pleasing, therefore, to note fresh performers with tlio ball whoso figmcs l>espeak the Tcsults of their work. In what is practically his first season J. A. O'Connor, of Sydney, has jumped to the head of the list, Thero is much merit in his liowling. and his position has been fairly won. Cotter has improved wonderfully, and his prcsenco in the Australian Eleven will be a creat. source of strength next. season. G. li. Garnsey proved, with O'Connor, an admirable variety to tho "express." and these three sustained tho principal attack for. New South Wales. Noble had not the came necessity as of old for doing very much with tTie ball. Armstrong and Saunders were the two most reliable men for Victoria, and though Collins gave somewhat spasmodic he!w there was really no one else. In A. Wright South Australia found a. capital slow howler, and without liini she would have been badlv off. Reedman cannot bo expecled to last much longer, while Travcrs and Claxtori appear to have lost, much of their dendlincss. It is more than ever necessary that the South Australian Cricket Association should lake definile action in the direction of securing cither a good bowJor or a competent coach.